Sheet feeder



p 3, 1946. c. w. HARROLD 2,406,765

SHEET FEEDER Filed June 10,1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CHARLES 14 Mama .0 M 95M ATTORNEY 5 Sept. 3, 1946- c. w. HARRO'LD 2,406,765

SHEET FEEDER Filed June 10, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENT OR.

CHHRLEE 144140012040.

BY wwmaw' ATTORNEYS Sept. 3, 1946; c. w. HARRO4LD.

SHEETIFEEDER Filed June 10, 1942 esneets-sheet s ATTORNEYS Y Y B Sept. 3, 1946.: .;w. HARROLD SHEET FEEDER Filed June 10, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. CHARLES M4 HAeEoLa ATTORNEYS Sept. 3, 1 946. w. HARROLD SHEET FEEDER Filed Jung 1;), 1942 9 Shets-Sheet s INVENTQR. CHARLES I44 fine/ea) ATTORNEYS pt- 1946. E c. w. HARROLD 2,406,765

SHEET FEEDER Filed June 10, 1942 9 Sheets-Sht 6 1 E742 1 I. 44 QM {if 1 Q SIT- lk 1- 99 I i m E I 95 I E I 174 INVENTOR. 411g CHARLES 14 Hnezaw 56 15 M W af m' ATTORNEYS 1 c. w. HARROLD I 2,406,765

SHEET FEEDER Filed June 10, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 7' f 1 -2 Omens 14 Hanan BY 14am.

ATTORNEYS P 1946- c. w. HARROLD 1 2, 06,765

SHE-ET FEEDER Filed June.l0, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet s ATTOBNEY5 Sept. 3, 1946.

c. w. HARR OLD SHEET FEEDER Filed June 10(1942 9 Sheet-Sheet 9 flaw Y I INVENTOR. (w/e155 l lM flmaw the pile.

Patented Sept. 3, 1946 SHEET FEEDER Charles W. Harrold, University Heights, Ohio, assignor to Harris-Seybold Company, a corporation of Delaware Application June 10, 1942, Serial No. 446,477

43 Claims. (01. 271-458) This invention relates to sheet feeders and particularly to feeders for feeding sheetsof paper, cardboard and the like to printing, folding, scoring and other machines for operating on the sheets. a

A general object of the invention is to provide a sheet feeder which shall be reliable, eflicient and convenient in operation and simple and .economical in construction.

A further object is to provide a sheet feeder particularly well adapted for the feeding of sheets in lapped formation, commonly known in the art as stream feeding.

Another object is to provide a sheet feeder capable of feeding very small sheets in lapped formation.

Another object is to provide a sheet feeder which shall positively separate the topmost sheet of a pile of sheet and forward the same accu- :1

rately toward the operating machine without disturbing the position of the remaining sheets of Anotherobject is to provide a, novel and highly effective method and means for separating sheets individually from a pil of sheets.

Another object is to provide a reliable sheet separating means which shall avoid rubbing or abrasive action or undue pressure on the sheets.

Another object is to provide improved suction means adapted to perform separating, lifting and forwarding Operations upon sheets.

Other objects lie in the construction, arrangement, and operation of the various parts of the mechanism herein disclosed and will be apparent from the description.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side'elevational view of a feeder embodying the invention taken along the line l-l of Fig. 2 and including certain portions of a printing press to which the feeder is attached;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the feeder shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the same;

Fig. l is a horizontal detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail front elevational view on a larger scal of one form of sucker head and its operating mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational View corresponding to Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line '.l''! of Fig. 6 and showing the air passages leading to the sucker head;

Fig. 8 is a View similar to a portion of Fig. 5 but showing another form of sucker head;

Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional views of the sucker head of Fig. 5 taken along th line 9l!l of that figure and illustrating alternative positions of the head;

Figs. 11 and 12 are sectional'views of the sucker head of Fig. 8 taken along the line l l-l2 of that figure and illustrating alternative positions of the head; l

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are detail sectional views taken substantially on the lines I 3-l3, I'd-l4 and |5l5, respectively, of Fig. 2, but on a larger scale;

Fig. 16 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line Iii-l6 of Fig. 2, but on a larger scale;

Figs. 17 to inclusive are diagrammatic side elevational views illustrating the operation'of certain portions of the preferred form of the invention; V 1 V s 7 Fig. 26 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the paths of movement of the sheet gripping suckers;

Fig. 2'7 is a detail elevational view, partly in vertical section longitudinally of the machine, showing on a larger scale means for preventing transverse movement of a vertically movable assembly positioned at the rear of the pile of sheets to be fed;

Fig. 28 is a rear elevational view of the parts illustrated in Fig.27; and

Fig. 29 is a detail elevational view taken substantially on the line 29-29 of Fig. 3 and showing the parts on a larger scale.

In Fig. 1 a sheet feeder constructed according to the inventionis shown attached to a'printing pres whose impression cylinder 30 is journaled in a pair of side frames 3|, only one of which is shown. The cylinder 36 is provided with the usual sheet grippers-32 and adjacent the cylinder are two or more front registering guides or stops 33, of known construction, adjustably carried by brackets 34 which are keyed to shaft 35. The latter shaft is oscillatably journaled in frames 3| and known connections, not shown, are provided for oscillating shaft 35 to raise guides 33 out of th path of the sheets as the latter are taken by the grippers 32. The usual sheet support plate 36 is also provided for supporting the forward ends of the sheets as they are fed into contact with the guides 33. Preferably mechanism of any desired construction, not shown, is also provided for registering each sheet lateraly during the time it is at rest in contact with the guides 33 so that each sheet may be accurately positioned in relation to the press before it is taken by the grippers 32.

The pile 31 of sheets to be fed is supported upon a pile board 38 which in turn is supported by the feeder side frames 39, til, which are joined to press frames 3! by connecting frame members 4 I, 42. Means of known construction, not herein shown in detail, are provided fo raising ile 3'1 gradually as sheets are fed off to maintain the pile at proper height. This means may embody cables 43 running upon reels A l automatically rotated small increments at intervals, the operating means being diagrammatically indicated herein.

as a shaft 45 with hand wheel 45, the reels being driven from shaft 45 by a worm and worm wheel connection.

At the forward end of pile 31 is located a tape driving roller, referred to generally as 53, which comprises a shaft 54 rotatably journaled in frames 59, 45 and a plurality of Wheels 55, 55 pinned or otherwise secured to shaft 54. Around wheels 55, 55 are trained a plurality of endless sheet forwarding tapes which extend, at the forward end of their runs, around an idler roller 58 mounted for free rotation in press frames 3!. Tightening rollers 59 are arranged to engage the lower courses of the tapes to maintain the latter taut, and one or more idler wheels SI of the usual kind are arranged above each tape 51 to rest on the sheets and press them against the tapes to assist the forwarding action. Above roller 53 and arranged to cooperate with Wheels 55 are a pair of wheels 62 of usual kind which function to press the sheets against Wheels 56 for conveying the sheets off the pile, the diameter of those portions of wheels 55 which cooperate with wheels 82 being such as to have a peripheral speed substantially the same as the speed of tapes 51. Wheels 62 are freely rotatable on pins 63 carried in arms 64 which are carried in any suitable manner on rod 65 fixed at its ends in frames 39, 40. Arms 64 may be arranged to resiliently press wheels 62 against the sheets but, as shown, are arranged loosely on rod 65 between collars 56 thereby causing wheels 62 to rest by gravity on the sheets.

Shaft 54 has keyed to it near frame Ml a gear 61 which meshes with gear 58 keyed to shaft 69. 5

The latter is rotatably journaled in frames 39, 4!! and has secured to one end a sprockethub 19 carrying a sprocket II around which passes a drive chain 12. Chain 72 also passes around sprocket I3 keyed to shaft I4 which is rotatably mounted in press frames 3| and is driven by earing not shown to make one revolution for each revolution of impression cylinder 39.

As illustrated, the tape roller 53 and its driving mechanism are so arranged as to cause the tapes 5! to travel at a relatively slow speed as compared with the peripheral speed of impression cylinder 3!] so that the sheets fed from pile 31 are conveyed toward the press in lapped formation, thus providing so-called stream feeding. In some of its aspects, however, the invention is independent of the manner of conveying the sheets away from the pile and therefore the tapes 5! may, if desired, be driven with speed approximating the peripheral speed of cylinder 30 whereby the sheets may be withdrawn from the pile in entirely separated condition as in so-called sheetby-sheet feeding; or the tapes 5'! may be given any other suitable constant or varying speed.

Hub It? has secured thereto a further sprocket 75 which drives a chain 16 which passes around a sprocket TI keyed to a shaft IS. The latter shaft extends across the feeder near the forward end thereof and is rotatably journaled in side frames 39, 40 and the connections are such as to cause shaft 18 to make one revolution for each revolution of impression cylinder 30. Near one end shaft 78 supports a housing comprising a body portion T9 and end plates 80 secured to the body portion by screws or the like. Between plates I50, shaft 18 carries a. spiral gear 82 keyed to the shaft. The latter gear meshes with another spiral gear 83 which is slidably keyed to a shaft 85 extending toward the rear of the feeder at right angles to shaft '58. Gear 83 is rotatably journaled in and held against lateral movement by end plates 86 secured to housing bod I9 by screws, not shown. Shaft 85' is provided with a long keyway 8 1 for the purpose of permitting adjustment of the feeder for different lengths of sheets as will appear.

At the rear end, of shaft 85 is another housing comprising a body portion 89 and end plates similar to the parts 19 and 85 previously described. Between the end plates of housing 89 is a spiral gear 93 keyed to shaft 85 and between end plates SI attached to the upper part of the housing there is a spira1 gear 94- keyed to a cam shaft 95 which extends across the feeder at the rear thereof. By means of the connections just described driving force is transmitted from shaft 18 through shaft 85 to shaft '95, the latter being made to turn with the same speed as shaft I8.

Shaft 95 is rotatably journaled at its ends in a pair of brackets 95, 91 which are rigidly connected by two tie rods 98, 99 secured in the brackets by set screws I00. Bracket 96 is provided with a groove which slidably engages a supporting flange IIJI formed integral with side frame All and bracket 91 is provided with a similar groove which engages a flange I02 formed integral with side frame 39. Thumb screws I03 in each of the brackets are provided for clamping the latter in any desired position on the flanges IIII, I02.

Supported upon tie rods 83, 99 are four brackets HM, I65, I95, lG'I each of which is adjustably clamped by a thumb screw I58 to a transversely extending rod I89. At its lower extremity bracket I04 is bifurcated to receive one end of a rod III] which is clamped to bracket Ills by screw I I I and which carries at its other end a pile guide H2 having two faces at right angles for guiding the corner of pile 37. Bracket Ill! is likewise bifurcated at its lower extremity to receive rod H3 which is clamped in bracket IIl'l by screw I M and carries a pile guide H5 for the other rear corner of the pile. Bracket I55 carries at its lower end a normally stationary air blast nozzle I I5 directed toward the upper rear edge of the pile and clamped to bracket I95 b thumb screw I II. This nozzle is flattened vertically at its open end to form a relatively narrow vertically extending slot whereby the force of the blast is increased and the blast is effective through a considerable vertical distance to fluff the upper part of the pile of sheets. Bracket I96 similarly carries at its lower end a second normally stationary air blast nozzle I28 clamped to the bracket by thumb screw H9 and formed in a manner similar to nozzle H6. As shown, nozzles H5, H8 are located a short distance apart on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the pile, this being the preferred arrangement when the suction and movable air blast devices are located substantially in the center of the pile as shown and later described. The nozzles I I5, I I8 may, however, be adjusted to other desired positions as required for different kinds of stock and conditions of operation, Nozzles H5, I I8 are connected by hose connections I28, I2I to a controlled source of air pressure as later described.

Each of the brackets I84, I85, I86, I87 is pro vided with vertically aligned elongated slots embracing the two tie rods 98,99 as indicated-at I22 in Fig. 1, each of these slots being of a length to permit limited vertical movement of the assembly comprising the brackets I94, I85, I86, I87, rod I89, pile guides II2, II5, and nozzles H6, H8, in order to provide for adjustment and to prevent accidental damage to the parts when the pile is first raised into operative position. Brackets I84 and I87 are provided with adjusting screws I23 which bear against rod 98 to fix the lowermost position of these brackets, For the purpose of preventing lateral movement of the assembly on rods 98, 99, a small guide block I24 is clamped by set screw I25 to rod 99. This block is provided with a vertical slot I26 into which extends a tongue I27 which is formed as part of a block I28 adjustably secured on rod 599 by a set screw Between the brackets 96, 97 and secured upon tie rods 98, 99 by set screws I39 are'two brackets I 3i I32 which are spaced apart by shouldered tie rods I39, I34 and clamped thereto by nuts I35 on the ends of the rods to form a rigid box-like structure to contain the operating mechanism now to be described. Shaft 95 is journaled rotatably in the brackets I 3|, I 32 and between the latter carries three cams I36, I37, I 88 each of which is keyed to the shaft 95. Between brackets I 3I I32 on'rod 98 are pivotally mounted three arms I99, I46, I4I which cooperate with the three cams.

Arm I39 carries a cam roller I42 which runs on cam I36 and is urged against that cam by tension spring I43 extending between pin I44 in arm I39 and rod I34. At its forward end arm I39 carries a stud I45 upon which is pivotally supported a slotted bracket I46 in the lower end of which is secured a combined Presser foot and air blast nozzle I47 of known design. consisting of a hollow L-shaped tube adapted to press on the pile of sheets and having a long narrow horizontally disposed mouth for directing a blast of air forwardly along the top of the pile of sheets; The nozzle I47 receives air under pressure through a chamberin bracket I46 with which it connects and which is connected by pipe I48 and flexible hose connection I49 to a controlled so-urceof airunder pressure later described. Bracket I46 at its upper end is provided with a slot I58 which slidably engages a flanged roller I5I loosely carried on a stud I52 secured in bracket I9I. The arrangement of the parts is such that as cam I36 rotates to lift arm I39 the nozzle I47 is raised up off the pile of sheets and is swung about its pivot I45 to a position above and t0 the rear of the pile, Its initial upward movement is substantially vertical so as not to disturb the sheets and subsequently it moves backward as well as upward as illustrated in Figs. 17 to 25 inclusive. Its movement downward is of course the reverse of. its upward movement, so that as it presses upon the sheets Cir ' nuts I87 to a noddle pin I88.

6 ported on a headed stud I 62 which is fixedly held in bracket I32 by nut I63. The other arm I64 of rock lever I6I, constituting a swinging support for the sucker head presently to be described, is provided at its upper end with a cavity I65 (Fig,

7) into which is threaded a nipple I66 to which an opening I74 is provided in stud I78 for a purpose which will be apparent.

Upon the stud I78 there is rotatably mounted a sleeve I75 constituting a rotatable support for the suction head, said sleeve having an internal annular chamber I76 which is adapted to conmeet with opening I74 in all rotative positions of sleeve I75. This sleeve is also provided with a longitudinal groove I77 which connects annular chamber I76 with suction mouths of a suction head removably fixed upon sleeve I75. One form of suction head is indicated at I78 in Figs. 5, 7, 9 and 10, while an alternative form which may be used in place of head I79 is shown at I79 in Figs. 8, l1 and 12. The construction of these heads will bedescribed in detail later.

Between suction head I78 and arm I64, and formed integrally with sleeve I75, are gear teeth I89 which mesh with a pinion I8I rotatably mounted on a stud I82 secured in arm I64 by nut I83. Pinion I8I meshes with a gear segment I34 which is pivotally carried on stud I62. This gear segment has fixed therein a stud I85 which is pivotally connected to the lower end of a link I86 whose upperend is adjustably clamped by arm I48 and rod I34 urges roller I89-against its cam I37.

As cam I38 is rotated arm I4! moves up and down and through its connecting link I57 rocks the lever I6! about its pivot I92 thereby swinging stud I78 and suction head I78 in an arcuate path extending from a point substantially directly be low stud I62 to a point forwardly and upwardly therefrom, as illustrated in Figs. l7 to 25 inclusive.

"It is to be noted that the movement of lever I6I about'its pivot I62 will not only effect bodily translation of suction head I78, but if gear segment I84 is caused to remain stationary or to have a different movement than lever I6I, will also cause rotation of suction head I78 in'a manner determined by the relation between gear teeth I88 and gear segment I84. Thus a combined motion of translation and rotation may be imparted to suction head I78 or translation alone or rotation alone may be produced. Preferably, and as'later more fully described, these motions of translation and rotation are combined into'a novel and highly eflicieht sequence of'movements for separating and forwarding the sheets off the pile 37.

The suction heads I78 and I79 are interchangeable and each is preferably constructed with two differently formed sets of suction mouths, ither of which may be used, thu making four'sets of suction mouths of different character which may Pin I89 is pivotally be used optionally to secure efficient operation upon a wide variety of sheets and under many different conditions.

Suction head I'IB as illustrated comprises a body portion I92 having a bore I99, which slidably accommodates sleeve I75. In th wall of body portion I92 is a threaded screw I94 having a reduced end I95 which is adapted to extend into either one of two holes I99, I91 in sleeve I15 for fixing the head IE9 in either of its two therefore with the source of suction. As shown in Fig. 10 sucker mouths I99 are in operative position. Each of the sets of suction mouths I99 and 29 I is arranged substantially in a line extending lengthwise of the suction head He and transversely of the direction of travel of the sheets whereby the sheets are gripped at sufficiently widely spaced points to substantiall prevent twisting of the sheets out of alignment. These mouths are also arranged in two spaced groups as shown in Fig. 5, for a similar reason, it being apparent that the further the sucker mouths are spaced from the center of suction head M9 the greater will be the eiiect of preventing twisting of the sheets. 7

At each end of the sucker head H8 there are two semi-cylindrical flanges 292, 292 formed integrally with the body portion I92, the radius of curvature of these flanges being substantially equal to the distance of the sucker mouths I99 and 26E from the center of stud I19. The purpose of th flanges 292, 292' is to enable the sucker head I78 to form a curvature in the rear portion of the sheet as the latter is lifted from the pile as more fully explained below. It is apparent that the head I78 could be made in the head I19 comprises a body portion 295 having a bore 296 which slidably accommodates sleeve I15 to which the body 295 is removably secured in either of two positions by screw I94 protruding into either of the holes I96, I91 as in the case of body portion I92 of suction head I28. Two passages 291 are provided on one side of the body 295, each of which is arranged at its outer end to receive and retain a flexible sucker 298 preferably formed of rubber or like material. On the opposite side are two other passages 299 which are arranged to hold the larger flexible suckers 2 I9. As shown in Figs. 8 and 12, suckers 2I9 and passages 299 are in operative position, that is, they are in communication with slot Ill and therefore with the source of suction, and as shown in Fig. 11, the head I19 has been moved through 180 to bring suckers 298 and passages 291 into operative position.

At each end of suction head I79 there are two arcuate, flanges 2Il, 2I2 formed integrally with body portion 295. The radius of these flanges is substantially equal to the distance from the center of stud I79 to the outer surface of suckers 298 or ZIEI, as the case may be, when one or the other set of suckers is grippinga sheet. As illustrated, flanges 2H and 2I2 are concentric with stud I19, but they with the body 295 are cut back further on the side where the suckers 2I9 are mounted in order to accommodate the larger suckers. Furthermore the location of suction mouths and the radii of curvatur of the flanges of the two heads H8 and I19 are substantially the same so that the heads may be interchanged without necessitating changes in the other parts of the feeder. The suction heads may be diiferently proportioned provided appropriate changes are made in the other parts of the feeder.

The connections by which suction effect is transmitted .to the suction head I28 or I79 and air under pressure is transmitted to the movable presser foot nozzle I91 and the stationary nozzles H9 and H8 are as follows (Fig. 2) Suction hose H3? is connected to a nipple 2I9 threaded into a hole extending through frame 39. Into the other end of this hole is threaded an elbow 2M to which is connected a pipe 2I5 whose other end a is joined to the stationary valve casing 2H5, the

latter being secured to the outer surface of frame 99 by screws or other suitable means. Air pressure hose I 59 is connected to nipple 2E8 threaded into a hole in frame 99 which is connected to casing 2I9 by elbow 2I9 and pipe 229. Air pressure hoses I29, I2I are'joined to nipples 22!, 222 which are threaded into holes 223, 224 in frame 39. These latter holes connect with a common hole 225 into which is threaded elbow 226 which is connected to valve casing 2I9 by pipe 221.

As illustrated more particularly in Fig. 16, valve casing H6 is provided with a cylindrical bore in which there is a rotor 229 havinga soc at 229 in one end which is adapted to engage a lug or pin 239 secured to the end of rotating shaft I8. The rotor 229 is normally held within the casing 2I9 by a bar 23I removably held in place by screws 232 secured in the casing. A knurled head 233 is formed upon the outer end of rotor 228 to enable the latter to be easil pulled out of the casing when the bar 235 is removed. A pipe 234 leading from a suitable source of suction (not shown) and a pipe 239 leading from a suitable source of air pressure (not shown) are connected at appropriate points to the underside of casing 2 I 9.

A chamber 299 extending part way around the cylindrical wall, of casing M6 and a, registering passageway 29? extendingpart way around rotor 229 are provided to furnish connection between inlet pipe 299 and outlet pipe 2I5, the arrangement being such that, as rotor 229 is turned once for each cycle of operation of the feeder, suction is induced in suction head I78 or I'I9 at the required times. Further passageways 23B and 239 are provided in rotor 229 for connecting inlet pipe 299 to the outlet pipes 229 and 22'! so that air under pressure .is delivered to the nozzles I I S, I I8 and I4! at the proper times.

At the forward end of the pile of sheets 31, the frames 39, 49 are joined by a bar 249 secured to the frames by bolts 2 H. On this bar are two upright guides 292, 2% each having two faces disposed at right angles for guiding the front corners of the pile of sheets. Each guide 292, 293 is provided with a pair of lugs 264 and a cover plate 295 secured to the lugs by screws 249 forming'a rectangular opening adapted .to slidably receive bar 248. In plate 245 is a threaded thumb screw 241 adapted to be tightened against bar 240 for clamping the guides 242, 243 in any desired position along'bar 248 to accommodate sheets of different sizes. Pile board 38is notched out as at 248 so the guides 242, 243 may engage the corners of smallsheetsrwithout interference by the board 38. Near the center of bar 248 twonon-adjustable upright pile guides 249, 258 are secured by screws I.

Bar 24!! also supports three upright stationary brackets 252, 253, 254, each of which is rigidly clamped to bar 240 by a plate 255 held against the bar by two screws 255. Bracket 254 supports one end of an oscillatable shaft 251 which extends transversely across the feeder and is journaled also in brackets 253 and 252. This shaft has secured thereto a plurality of movable pile guides or joggers 258 which are adapted at times to occupy a position against the pile as shown in Fig. 1, and at other times to swing forward shaft 54 of roller 53 in spaces not occupied by collars 55 and 56 as shown in Figs. 20, 21 and 22; Oscillation of shaft 251 and guides 258 is producedby a cam 259 secured to shaft 58 upon which cam runs a roller 288 carried by lever 26I pivotally supported on a stud 262 in bracket 252. A tension spring 263 between pins 264 and 255 in lever 26I and bracket 252 respectively maintains roller 260 against cam 259. The rocking movement imparted by the cam to lever 28! is transmitted by connecting rod 266 to an arm 261 pinned or otherwise keyed to shaft 251. Shaft 69, as previously stated, turns once for each cycle of the feeder, and as a consequence the movable guides 258 make one complete movement toward and away from the pile for each sheet fed therefrom.

The operation of my feeder will in part be evident from the preceding description and the drawings, but for a more complete understanding I will now describe the preferred manner of operation with particular referenceto Figs. 17 to 25 inclusive. 'In these figures the lower arm I54 of 'rock lever I6I 'isindicated by a broken line through the centers of stud I62, pinion I8I, and suction head I18.

Fig. 1'7 shows the positionof the parts when the topmost sheet of the pile has just been gripped by suction head I18 and its rear edge is about to be lifted from the pile. The blast in nozzles IIS and H8 has been on for a time with the result that the sheets near the top of the pile have been fluffed up, separated from each other and raised to some extent by the presence of air under pressure between the sheets. Movable front guide 258 is up against the pile so that the sheets will not move forward off the pile under the impetus of theblast from nozzles H6, H8. Presser foot nozzle I 41 has been lifted up off the pile and backward'out of the path of suction head I18. Segment I84 is stationary and arm I64 is momentarily in the vertical position. With the parts in these positions suction is induced in head I18 causing suction mouths 20I to grip the topmost sheet SI.

After the sheet SI has beengripped the blast in nozzles I I6, I I8 is turned off, the arm I54 starts to swing forward and upward, and presser foot nozzle I41 begins to move downward and forward toward the top of the pile, as shown in Fig, 18. During the forward movement of arm I64, segment I84 remains stationary with the result that suction head|18 rotates in the anti-clockwise direction about its pivot stud I10. This causes the suction mouths 20I to rise more rapidly than the head I18 as a whole, thereby lifting the rear portion of the sheet and wrapping the sheet partly around the suction head I18 thus forming an upwardly concave curvature in the sheet as it conforms tothe shape of the suction head I'l8.

The forward and upward'movement of arm I64 and the downward and forward movement of presser foot nozzle I41 continue until the arm reaches its foremost position and the nozzle rests upon the pile as illustrated in Fig. 19. At this point the rear portion of the sheet has been formed into a curve and has been lifted off of the pile. It is to be noted that curving the rear part of the sheet causes the rear edge thereof to be carried forward as Wellas upward so that it is out of the way of the descending presser foot nozzle I41. Thus onl a slight spacing of the suction head I18 above the pile is sufficient to permit easy passage of air beneath the top sheet, in contrast to known feeders in which therear part of the sheet must be raised vertically a relatively large distance in order to provide clearance for a nozzle such as nozzle I41. It is also to be noted that in the preferred form, and as illustrated, the proportions of the parts are such'as to cause the rear part of the sheet to be curved and lifted without the mainbody of the sheet being moved'either forward or backward on the pile. B this arrangement there is no tendency for the sheet to slip on the suction mouths 28I and break their grip upon the sheet; At about the time nozzle I41 descends to the pile its air blast is turned on and air is blown forwardly under the top sheet SI to complete the separation thereof from the pile and to assist in the subsequent forwarding of the sheet off the pile.

After the completion of the forward and upward movement of arm I64, and while the blast from nozzle I41 continues to'blow, the movable front guides 258 are swung forward sufiiciently to permit the sheet SI to freely move off the pile and segment gear I84 is swung upward thereby causing suction head I18 to rotate about its stud I10 in the clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 20. This causes suction mouths 21H to move downwardly and forwardly in an arcuate path which corresponds to the curvature of the rear portion of the sheet. The movement of suction mouths 20I together with the forwarding effect of the air blast from nozzle I 41 upon the separated sheet SI imparts to the latter controlled forward move- ,ment which carries the front edge of the sheet into the'bite f wheels 62 and collars 58. The speed imparted to the sheet by suction mouths ZUI is preferably substantially equal to the peripheral speed of wheels 62 and collars 56 at the time the latter take the sheet in order to avoid slipping of the sheet upon the mouths 20 I.

At'about the time the front edge of sheet SI :is takenby Wheels 62 and collars 55, the blast from nozzles I41 isdiscontinued and suction in mouths 20I is cut off/whereupon the rear portion of the sheet is released and drops upon the pile. After suction is cut off, segment I84 continues to swing upward a short distance with decreasing speed until it comes to a stop at its uppermost position thereby bringing the rotation of head I18 'to a stop as shown in'Fig. 21. Meanwhile the wheels 82 and collars 56 continue to convey the sheet SI forward and nozzle I41 continues to rest upon the pile, holding the remaining sheets against any tendency to move forward out of their proper position.

As sheet SI is being conveyed off the pile and Fig. 22. This movement of segment 584 causes suction head M8 to rotate anti-clockwise and return suction mouths 28'! toward their uppermost position.

The movements just described continue until the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 23, that is, front guides 258 are back against the pile and segment N34 has reached its rearmost position.

Thereupon, as shown in Fig. 24, presser foot nozzle it? begins to rise off the pile, the air blast in nozzles H6, H8 is turned on and arm begins to swing backward and downward, segment I 84 remaining stationary meanwhile. The movement of arm Hid while segment I84 remains stationar causes suction mouths 28! to travel in a curved path extending backwardly and downwardly toward the pile, the direction of the path being substantially vertical during the latter part of the movement although the surface of the mouths 21H is at a constantly changing angle to the plane of the top of the pile. Furthermore the combined swinging and rolling movement of suction head H8 causes each point of the periphery of the suction head to move in an epicycloidal path with stud ltZ as the stationary center. For any such point which comes in contact with the sheets, this path is substantially vertical at the time of contact so that there is no wiping or rubhing effect upon the sheets as the suction head descends to sheet gripping position. As will be apparent from inspection of Fig. 24, the suction head H8 constitutes means for limiting the elevation of the uppermost sheet due to the flufiing action of nozzles H6, thereby maintaining the sheet in proper position to be taken by the sucker as the latter rolls from the position of Fig. 24 to thatof Fig. 25.

The movements illustrated in Fig. 24 and just described continue until the parts reach the posi tions shown in Fig. 25 whereupon suction is again turned on and the next sheet S2 is seized preparatory to being separated and fed off. The previous sheet Si, having been only partly removed from the pile, will partly overlie the next sheet S2 and the same condition will exist for the succeeding sheets, so that a stream of lapped sheets will be formed and conveyed forward by the wheels 82 and collars 56 and the forwarding tapes 57.

In the preferred form of the invention the suction mouths move along a linear path comprising an epicycloidal portion and a circular portion. Referring to Fig. 26 the suction mouths rise and move somewhat forward along the path ab,

meanwhile tilting so that the surface adjacent prior to beginning their epicycloidal downward movement. It is somewhat important in the operation of the feeder that the lifting and forwarding movement be as described, but it is of .less importance that the return movements be carried out in sequence, and, if desired, the re guides H2, H5.

. ward shift of the sheet.

turn circular and epicycloidal movements may be combined. If the return movements are carried out in. different sequence than the lifting and forwarding movements, the mouths will of course travel in a closed pathinstead of linear path.

As previously mentioned the forwarding wheels 62 and collars 56 and the tapes 5'! may be operated at such speed that each sheet is completely drawn off the pile before the next sheet is started forward, so that the sheets are not lapped. Under such conditions the contour of cam I31 would preferably be altered so that the suction months 29! would forward the sheets substantially at the higher speed of wheels 62 and collars but in other respects the feeder would require no substantial alteration.

it will be seen that the sheets of the pile are at all times held against shifting movement. Whenever p-resser foot nozzle It! is lifted off the pile, front guides 258 are up against the front edge of the pile to prevent forward movement of the sheets, backward movement, of course, being prevented by the stationary rear corner Whenever the front guides 258 are swung forward to permit the top sheet to move off the pile, presser foot nozzle I4! is on the pile holding the sheets firmly against shifting forward.

It will also be noted that in the preferred form shown there is no substantial forward or backward shifting of the main body of the sheet while the rear portion thereof is being separated and raised. Under some conditions it may be desirable to so proportion the parts that the main body of the sheet is shifted forward or backward during the separating action. If desired, this may be accomplished in one way merely by decreasing the radius of the suction head H3 for achieving a forward shift of the sheet or by increasing the radius thereof for achieving a rear- When the suction head I'ES swings in a forward direction through a given arc about the shaft 32, the head I18 rotates simultaneously in an anti-clockwise direction due to the action of the gears. The machine as illustrated is so designed that the forward swing is compensated by the anti-clockwise rotation so that motion of the body of the sheet is zero. Now if the diameter of the head is decreased, the rotation is insufficient to compensate for the forward swing and the sheet moves forward. On the other hand if the diameter of the head is increased the rotation more than compensates for the forward swing and the body of the sheet moves rearward slightly.

The alternate flufiing of the pile by the air blast from nozzles H6, I I8 and compression of the pile by presser foot nozzle Ml causes an effective preliminary separation of the rear edges of the several topmost sheets of the pile. Thus any sheets which may be slightly stuck together will be broken apart prior to reaching the topmost position on the pile.

The mechanism described is simple and easy to construct and adjust, and the movements involved are accomplished without undue strain or wear on the parts.

, Preferably and as shown the pile is maintained in such vertical position that the topmost sheet, if not fluffed up by the blast from nozzles H6, H8 would lie a slight distance, say about below the suction head I18 when the latter is in its lowermost position; and the fluffing of the i. sheets by the air blast cases them to rise up into contact with the suction head. 'The vertical po sition of the pile may be varied, however, and may be such that the unflulfed pile would lie close enough to the suction head to bewithin the operative range thereof.

Whileas herein disclosed the preferred em bodimentof the invention includes means for raising the suction head as it moves forward and rolls up the rear end of the sheet, it is within the spirit of the invention to omit the raising movement. For example, while the rear edge of the sheet is being rolled up on the suction head the latter maybe moved in a rectilinear path parallel to the plane; of the top of the pile and at a speed such that the rolling up of the rear edge shall not, disturb the bod of the sheet, the sheet being separated from the top of the pile only enough to permit introduction of the air blast beneath the topmost sheet. This could be accomplished for example by mounting in engagement with the pinion I80 a horizontal rack arranged parallel to the direction of feed, and providing mechanismto effect bodily movement of the stud 110 in a horizontal plane instead of arcuate reciprocation about the shaft I62, as shown in the drawings.

The vertical position of the pile is preferably controlled by automatic mechanism of known design connected to the presser foot nozzle l4! and to the mechanism for raising the pile rather than by the manual mechanism illustrated, but such mechanism is not shown in the drawings since it does not form a part of the present invention- If desired, as for larger sheets, two or more separating and forwarding units of the kind described may be utilized. For example, one unit comprising a suction head H8, a presser foot'nczzle [11, a pair of stationary blast nozzles l Hi, i l8 and associated operating mechanism may be employed near each rear corner of the sheets, or any number of such units may be employed at any desired position along the rear edge of the sheets. For small sheets, however, one such unit is sufficient audit is an important advantage of the invention that one such unit placed substantially on the longitudinal centerline of the sheets is sufficient to efiiciently feed rather large sheets at high speeds.

It is not necessary in the practice of some features of the invention that the curvature of the flanges 262, 292 and 2H, 2|2 of suction heads H8 and I79 be circular or have their centers at the center of stud H0, or that the motion of each point on the periphery of these flanges be epicycloidal in character, Other curvatures may be employed to produce the desired curvature of the sheets; or the flanges may be omitted, curvature of the sheet being accomplished by the upward and forward movement of the suction mouths E99, 2M, 2538, or 2H], as the case may be, combined with the tilting of the suction mouths and the natural stiffness of the sheet or its contact against front guides 258. g 1 Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The method of separating sheets from a supply. and advancing them to forwarding means, which comprises gripping the uppermost sheet near its rear edge, raising and forwarding the gripper in an epicycloidal path, swinging the gripper forwardly and downwardly in a circular arc to advance the sheet, releasing the sheet, and

returning the gripper to a position above the rear supply and advancing them to forwarding means, which comprises lowering a sheet gripper in an epicycloidal. downward and rearward path into sheet-taking position at the rear of the pile, gripping the sheet, raising and forwarding the gripperin the reverse epicycloidal path, swinging the'gripper forwardly and downwardly in a circular arc to advance the sheet, releasing the sheet, and swinging the gripper in the reverse direction through the same circular arc to complete the ycle. 1

3. The method, of separating sheets froma supply and advancing them to forwarding means, which comprises gripping the uppermost sheet near its rear edge, swinging the gripper axis forwardly and upwardly and simultaneously rotating the gripper rearwardly about its axis to elevate the gripper, rotating the gripper forwardly and downwardly upon its axis to advance the sheet, releasing the sheet, and returning the gripper to a position above the rear portion of the next sheet.

4. Th method of separating sheets from a supply and advancing them toforwarding means, which comprises lowering a sheet gripper to sheet taking pcsitionat the rear of the supply, gripping the sheet, swinging the gripper axis forwardly and upwardly and simultaneously rotating the gripper rearwardly about its axis to elevate the gripper, rotating'the gripper forwardly and down wardly upon its axis to advanc the sheet, releasing the sheet, and rotating the gripper in the reverse directio through the same circular arc to complete the cycle.

5. In mechanism of the character described, an

oscillatable gear sector, a sucker, a shaft upon which said sucker is mounted, an arm oscillatable through a given angle about thecenter of said sector, said shaft being mounted in the free end of said arm, a gear on said shaft rigid with said sucker, said gear being operatively connected with said gear sector, and means for oscillating said sector back and forth while said arm remains stationaryat one end of its arc of movement.

6. In mechanism of the character described, a gear sector oscillatable through a predetermined angle, a sucker, a shaft upon which said sucker is mounted, a swing arm carrying said shaft, said arm being mounted to turn about the center of saidgear sector, a gear on aid shaft rigid with said sucker and operatively associated with said gear sector, and means for swinging said arm back and forth while said sector remains stationary at one end of its angle of movement.

'7. In mechanism of the character described, a gear sector mounted to oscillate about its axis, an arm oscillatable about the same axis, a shaft carried by said arm, a sheet gripper on said shaft, a gear on said shaft rigid with said gripper, said gear being operatively associated with said sector, said gripper being arranged to take a position beneath said shaft when the arm extends down from said axis, and means for swinging the arm from said last named position through a given angle while the sector remains stationary, swinging the sector back andforth through a given angle-while the arm remains in its raised position, and then returning the arm to its original position. r

8. In mechanism of the character described,,a gear sector mounted to oscillate about its axis,

7 an arm oscillatable about the same axis, a shaft an arm oscillatable about the same'axis, a shaft carried by said arm, a sheet gripper on said shaft, a gear on said shaft rigid with said gripper, said gear being operatively associated with said sector, said gripper being so disposed angularly as to take a position beneath said shaft when the arm extends downward from said axis, a cam shaft, two cams thereon, means associated with said cams for swinging the arm from said last named position through a given angle while the sector remains stationary, swinging the sector back and forth through a given angle while the arm remains in its raised position and then returning the arm to its original position, and means for rotating the cam shaft.

10. In mechanism of the character described, a gear sector mounted to oscillate about its axis, an arm oscillatable about the same axis, a shaft carried by said arm, a sucker on said shaft, a

gear on said shaft rigid with said sucker, said gear being operatively associated with said sector, said sucker being arranged to take a position beneath said shaft when the arm extends downward from said axis, an air blast for finding the sheets at the rear of the pile, a combined presser foot and air blast nozzle for floating the uppermost sheet from the rear of the pile, said nozzle being movable back and forth between operative and inoperative positions, operating means for turning on the fluffing air blast and the suction in said sucker, turning off the fiuffing air blast, swinging the arm forward and raising the sucker, lowering the presser foot to operative position upon the pile, turning on the air blast from said presser foot, rotating the sucker forwardly and downwardly to advance the sheet while floated on the blast from said presser foot, shutting off the latter blast, relieving the suction in said sucker to release the sheet, rotating the sucker backwardly and upwardly and swinging the arm rearwardly to retract and lower the sucker for the beginning of the next cycle.

11. In mechanism of the character described, a pile support, pile guides at the forward end of the pile support mounted to swing from a vertical position downwardly and forwardly, means for gripping and rolling up the rear end of the uppermost sheet of the pile, means for causing a blast of air to be blown forwardly under the rolled up end of said uppermost sheet to float the forward portion thereof, means for swinging the pile guides downwardly and forwardly, means for advancing the rear edge of the floating sheet, and feeding means adapted to engage the front edge of the advanced sheet as it moves forward over said downwardly deflected guides, said guide operating means functioning thereafter to return the guides to vertical position before the next sheet of the pile is taken by said sheet gripping means.

12. In mechanism of the character described, a pile support, pile guides at the forward end of the pile support mounted to swing from a vertical position downwardly and forwardly, means for gripping and rolling up the rear end of the uppermost sheet of the pile, a blower presser foot for exerting pressure upon the rear end of the pile and for causing a blast of air to be blown forwardly under the rolled up end of said uppermost sheet to float the forward portion thereof, means for swinging the pile guides downwardly and forwardly, means for advancing the rear end of the floating sheet, and feeding means adapted to engage the front edge of the advanced sheet as it moves forward 'over the said downwardly deflected guides, said guide operating means functioning thereafter to return the guides to vertical position before the presser foot is withdrawn and before the next sheet of the pile is taken by said sheet gripping means.

13. In mechanism of the character described, a pile support, movable pile guides at th forward end of the support, sheet separating and advancing means at the rear of the pile, front and rear transverse shafts for operating said guides and said sheet separating and advancing means respectively, and a longitudinal shaft operatively connected to both of said transverse shafts, the operative connection between said longitudinal shaft and one of said transverse shafts permitting the adjustment of one of said transverse shafts toward and away from the other transverse shaft without disturbing the longitudinal shaft.

14. In mechanism of the character described, a pile support, an air blast nozzle adapted to play upon the rear of the pile at its upper edge, a

\ pair of pile guides for the rear corners of the pile, a framework for carrying said nozzle and guides, and means for supporting said framework, said supporting means being yieldable in an upward direction.

15. The method of separating and feeding sheets from the top of a supply of sheets, comprising preliminarily separating a rear edge portion of the upper sheets of the supply and thereby elevating the topmost sheet of the supply, gripping the topmost sheet by suction near its raised rear edge while said edge remains thus raised, further raising and tilting the gripped portion of the sheet and rolling up a portion of the sheet adjacent and in front of said gripped portion, blowing air forwardly under the rolled up sheet, holding the next sheet of the supply against forward movement, and moving said gripped portion substantially along the line of curvature of the rolled up portion of the sheet to move the sheet forwardly along the top of the supply.

16. The method of separating and feeding the topmost sheet from a supply, comprising rolling up a rear portion of the sheet to partially cylindrical form to separate the same from the next sheet of the supply and unro-lling the rolled up portion of the sheet to advance the sheet forward end first in the feeding'direction.

17. The method of separating and feeding sheets from the top of a supply, comprising gripping the topmost sheet near its rear edge by suction, rolling up the rear portion of the gripped sheet around a moving center to partially cylindrical form and causing said center to move forwardly, and unro-lling said rear portion of said gripped sheet to advance the sheet forward end first in the feeding direction.

18. The method of separating and feeding sheets from the top of a supply, comprising gripping the topmost sheet by suction near its rear edge, simultaneously rolling up and bodily lifting the rear portion of the topmost sheet to impart a partially cylindrical form thereto, blowing air forwardly under said sheet to further separate the same and to provide sheet forwarding force, pressing on the next sheet of the supply, and unrolling the rolled up portion of the sheet to control advance of the sheet in the feeding direction..

19. The method of separating and feeding sheets from the top of a supply comprising gripping the topmost sheet by suction near its rear edge, rolling up the rear portion of the gripped sheet arounda curved body to separate the same from the next sheet of the supply, blowing air in the feeding direction under the rolled up sheet, unrolling said rear portion of said gripped sheet while said air is blowing to advance the sheet forward end first in the feeding direction further conveying the sheet in the feeding direction along the top of the supply and similarly operating upon the next sheet while the latter is still partly covered by the preceding sheet to form a stream of lapped sheets;

20. The method of separating and feeding sheets from the top of a supply, comprising gripping the topmost sheet by suction near its rear edge, raising and tilting the gripped portion of the sheet to a position approximately at right angles to the plane of the top of the supply and thereby carrying the rear'edge of the sheet upward and forward, rolling up a portion of the sheet adjacent and in front of said gripped portion during said raising and tilting movement, blowing air forwardly under the sheet, and moving said gripped portion substantially along the line of curvature of said rolled up portion to advance said topmost sheet forward edge first along the top of the supply.

21. The method of separating and feeding sheets from the top of a supply, comprising gripping the central portion only of the topmost sheet by suction near its rear edge, moving said gripped portion of the sheet to roll up a rear portion of the sheet and carry a central portion of said rear edge upward and forward, blowing air forwardly under the rolled up sheet to separate the same from the supply and provide sheet forwarding force, and moving said gripped portion to unroll the rolled up portion of the sheet to control advance of the sheet in the feeding direction;

22. The method of separating and feeding sheets from the top of a supply of sheets, comprising preliminarily separating the central portion of the rear edges of the upper sheets of the supply, gripping the central portion of the topmost sheet by suction near its rear edge while the sheets are in preliminarily separated condition, moving said grippedportion to roll up a portion of the sheet in the feeding direction, pressing on the central portion of the next sheet of the supply to hold the same against forward movement, blowing air forwardly between the rolled up sheet and the next sheet of the supply to further separate the topmost sheet and provide sheet forwarding force, moving said gripped portion to unroll the rolled up portion and thereby control the advance of the sheet in thefecding direction, further advancing the sheet by force applied to the forward portion thereof, releasing the gripped portion of the sheet, and similarly operating upon each succeeding sheet of the supply in turn while the same is still partly covered by the preceding sheet whereby a stream of lapped sheets is formed.

23. In mechanism for separating and feeding sheets from the top of a pile, two air blast nozzles arranged to blow'air against the rear edges of the upper sheets of the pile at adjacent spaced points to fl-uif the sheets, a movable presser foot arranged between said nozzles, and means for operating said presser foo-t to cause the same to press on the pile during a portion only of the feeding cycle once for each sheet fed.

24. In mechanism for separating sheets from the top of a pile of sheets, means for alternately. fluffing and compressing a rear edge portion of the upper sheets of the pile, a pair of flexible suckers arranged closely adjacent each other in a line parallel to said rear edge, means for causing said suckers to grip the topmost sheet of the pile near itsrear edge while the pile is fluffed, means for simultaneously raising and tilting said suckers while gripping a sheet to curve a rear portion of the sheet upwardly, said raising and tilting movement carrying the rear edge of the sheet upward and forward, and a curved body associated with said suckers adapted to contact the gripped sheet during the raising and tilting movement of said suckers to assist in curving said rear portion of the sheet, said body being at all times spaced above the unfiufiecl pile.

25. In sheet feeding mechanism, a sheet separating sucker, a pivot about which said sucker'is movable, anarm carrying said pivot, a fixed support on which said arm is pivotally mounted, means effective during the active portion of the sucker movement for swinging said arm about its pivot to swing said sucker pivot forward with respect to the feeding direction and responsive to said arm movement for moving said sucker about its pivot rearwardly.

26. In mechanism for separating and feeding sheets from the top of a supply, a sheet separating sucker, a pivot about which said sucker is movable, an arm carrying said pivot, a fixed support on which said arm is pivotally mounted, means for swinging said arm about its pivot to swing said sucker pivot forward and backward with respect to thefeeding direction, and means for moving said sucker about its pivot in the reverse direction, said sucker, sucker pivot and arm pivot being arranged to occupy positions substantially in a line perpendicular to the top of the supply at-the time when said sucker first grips a sheet.

2'7. In mechanism for separating and feeding sheets from the top of a supply, a sheet separating sucker, a pivot about which said sucker is movable, an arm carrying said pivot, a fixed support on which said arm is pivotally mounted, means for swinging said arm about its pivot to swing said sucker pivot forward and backward with respect to the feeding direction, and means for moving said sucker about its pivot, said sucker, sucker pivot and arm pivot being arranged to occupy positions substantially in a line perpendicular to the top of the supply at the time when said sucker first grips a sheet, said sucker moving means functioning to move said sucker backwardly through an angle of approximately degrees while said sucker pivot is being swung forward through a lesser angle. I

28. A sheet separating suction device comprising a support, a suction head adjustably mounted thereon having a plurality of suction orts of different suction characteristics fixed with respect to said head adapted selectively by adjustment of said head to occupy an operative position, and means for locking said head on said supportin 19 any of a plurality of positions corresponding to the positions of said orts.

29. In sheet separating and feeding mechanism, a support, a suction head adjustably mounted thereon, a plurality of flexible suckers of different size mounted in said head adapted selectively by adjustment of said head to occupy an operative position, and means for locking said head on said support with a selected sucker in operative position.

30. In sheet separating and feeding mechanism, a support, a suction head angularly adjustably mountedthereon having a plurality of angularly spaced suction ports of different suction characteristics adapted selectively to occupy an operative position depending upon the angu lar position of said head, and means for locking said head on said support in different angular positions.

31. 'In sheet separating and feeding mechanism, a support, a suction head angularly adjustably mounted thereon having a plurality of angularly spaced rows of suction ports therein adapted selectively :to occupy an operative position depending upon the angular position of said head, the different rows of ports having different suction characteristics, and means for looking. said headon said support in different angular positions.

32. A sheet separating suction device comprismeans for locking said head in position on said rotatable support to hold a selected one of said suction ports in operative position.

33. A sheet separating suction device comprising a stud, a support at one end thereof, the other end thereof being unsupported, a sleeve rotatable on said stud, a suction head adapted to slidably fit over said sleeve, and means for locking said head to said sleeve.

34. In sheet separating and feeding mechanism, a bodily movable stud, a support at one end thereof, the other end thereof being unsupported, a suctionhead adapted to be demountably and rotatably carried on said stud, means for retaining said head on saidstud operable to permit removal of said head endwis from said stud, and

means for rotating said head operable during bodily movement of said stud, the suction connection to said head extending through the supported end of said stud, and said rotating means being disposed at the supported end of said stud.

35. In mechanism of the character described a support for a pile of sheets, a sheet gripper adapted to occupy a position substantially above the level of the pile for gripping a sheet and to move upwardly while gripping a sheet, forwardly directed variably operated air blast means at the rear of the pile for flufing the sheets and thereby periodically raising the top sheet into contact with said gripper, a presser foot adapted periodically to move under a lifted sheet and press upon the rear portion of the pil at a time when said fiufiing air blast means is ineffective, pile guides at the sides and rear of the pile, movable pile guides at the front of the pile, means for moving said front guides backward and forward into and out of pile guiding position in synchronisrn with the movements of said presser foot, said front guide moving means functioning to main tain said front guides in pileguiding position While said air blast means is blowing'ancl said presser foot is off the pile and to move said front guides out of pile guiding position only while said presser foot is on the pile.

38. A sheet separating suction device comprising a movable support, a suction head demountably mounted on'said support, said head having sheet gripping suction ports angularly spaced and being rotatably adjustable upon said support to bring a selected one of said ports into operative position, means for retaining said suction head on said support, and means for rotating said suction head.

37. In mechanism for separating sheets from the top of a pile, air blast means for fluffing an edge portion of the upper sheets of the pile and thereby elevating the topmost sheet, a sheet gripping sucker adapted to move downwardly and angularly to a predetermined position above the level of the unfluffed pile for gripping the elevated topmost sheet and after gripping the sheet to move upwardly with the sheet, and means adapted to limit the elevation of said topmost sheet substantially to the level of said predetermined position prior to gripping of the sheet by said sucker, said elevation limiting means having substantially rolling contact with said topmost sheet.

38. In mechanism for separating and feeding sheets from the top of a supply, a sucker adapted to grip the topmost sheet of the supply near its rear edge, a curved body arranged in front of the sucker with respect to the feeding direction and adapted to engage a gripped sheet for forming a desired contour therein, means for raising and tilting the sucker while gripping a sheet to separate the rear portion of the sheet from the supply, said raising and tilting movement bringing the sheet into contact with said body, and means for further moving the sucker to move the sheet forward edge first in the feeding directicn along the top of the supply.

39. In mechanism for separating and feeding sheets from the top of a supply, a pivot, a sucker mounted on the pivot arranged to grip the topmost sheet of the supply near its rear edge, a curved body mounted on said pivot in front of the sucker with respect to the feeding direction and adapted to contact a gripped sheet for forming a desired contour therein, and means for swinging said sucker and body about the pivot in one direction While gripping a sheet to separate the rear portion of the sheet from the supply and in another direction to advance the sheet forward edge first in the feeding direction.

40. The method of separating and feeding sheets from the top of a supply, comprising gripping the sheet near its rear edge, applying to the gripped portion of the sheet a combined tilting and bodily lifting movement, said combined movement raising the portion of the sheet in front of the gripped portion and carrying the rear edge of the sheet adjacent the gripped portion upward and not substantially rearward of its original position, forming an upwardl concave curvature in the sheet in the region in front of the gripped portion during said combined movement, blowing air forwardly under the curved up sheet to further separate the same and pro-- vide sheet forwarding force, and moving said gripped portion, while said air is blowing, to impart controlled forward movement to the sheet, forward edge first, from said curved up position of the sheet to a position where it may be further advanced by conveying elements at the front of the supply, said controlled forward movement aforesaid and continuing until the sheet iswith in the region of control of said conveying elements.

41. The method of separating the top sheet from a pile of sheets, comprising pneumatically flufiing a rear edge portion of the upper sheets of the pile thereby elevating the same, gripping the top sheet near its rear edge while thus elevated, applying to the gripped portion thereof a combined tilting and bodily lifting movement, said combined movement raising the portion of the sheet in front of the gripped portion and carrying the rear edge of the sheet adjacent the gripped portion upward and not substantially rearward of its initial position, curving the sheet in the region directly in front of the gripped portion around a curved body during said combined movement, and blowing air forwardly under the curved up sheet to further separate the same.

42. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein the sheet gripping action is applied to a relatively small transverse portion of the sheet, whereby separation of the sheet takes place progressively both forwardly and laterally.

43. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein the sheet gripping action is applied centrally of the sheet and to a relatively small transverse portion thereof only, whereby separation of the sheet takes place progressively both forwardly and laterally.

CHARLES W. I-IARROLD. 

